Fake News Statistics By Impacts, AI, Country, Misinformation, Frequency, Media Outlets And Economic Losses

Introduction

Fake News Statistics: Fake news has become a major problem in today’s digital age in recent years. It spreads quickly through social media and other online platforms, often misleading people. Fake news spreads faster than real news, thus creating confusion and mistrust among global people. In 2024, current statistics and trends reveal that many people have encountered fake news online, and many have shared it unknowingly.

Fake news affects public opinion, political decisions, and even relationships. This article helps us understand how widespread it is and helps us address several issues more effectively. Raising awareness and encouraging critical thinking can reduce its impact, in which reliable statistics and research are essential for uncovering the truth and stopping the spread of false information. Everyone plays a role in combating fake news.

Editor’s Choice

• Fake News Statistics state that almost 59% of internet users expressed increased worry about distinguishing real from fake information online, up from 56% in 2023.
• Meanwhile, with 4.9 billion users globally, social media platforms remained major conduits for the dissemination of fake news.
• Key areas rife with false information included politics and other health issues, holding a share of 36% and 18%, respectively.
• A significant number of children in the UK encountered fake news online.
• The rise of AI-generated deepfakes heightened fears about their potential to mislead voters during the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
• Trust in mainstream news media remained polarized, with only 30% of respondents finding it highly trustworthy and just 7% among “very conservative” individuals.
• Foreign interference, notably from China and Russia, utilized fake news to influence the 2024 U.S. elections.
• Studies indicated that AI-generated fake news was perceived as less accurate than human-generated content.
• Despite the surge in fake news, many legislative efforts to curb its spread have been criticized for potentially doing more harm than good.
• Approximately 80% of U.S. adults reported encountering fake news related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

General Fake News Statistics of 2025

• Globally, 86% of people have come across fake news.
• In the U.S., 80% of adults have read or believed fake news at least once.
• Fake News Statistics reported that around 62% of online information may not be true.
• As of 2024, nearly 45% of people in the UK see fake news every day.
• Fake news statistics show that on social media, about 40% of shared posts are false on average.
• About 23% of Americans said they have shared fake news before.
• Nine out of ten adults in America check if their news is true or not.

Impacts of Fake News Statistics

• Most journalists (60%) are very worried about possible restrictions on press freedoms in the United States.
• As of 2024, almost 94% of journalists said fake news is a big issue in America today.
• Of those, 71% believe it’s a very serious problem, and 23% think it’s moderately serious.
• Only 6% feel fake news is a small issue or not a problem at all.
• Nearly all journalists (94%) agree that fake news is a serious concern in today’s world.
• About 7 in 10 journalists describe fake news as an extremely serious problem.
• Over half (58%) talk about misinformation with coworkers at least several times a month.
• One-third of journalists frequently deal with fake information in their work.
• Almost all journalists (97%) think misinformation and disinformation are harmful to society.
• Trust in mainstream media is divided, with only 30% finding it very trustworthy, but just 7% of conservatives agree.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Fake News Statistics

• Canadians are most worried about AI spreading misinformation, with 64% concerned, compared to 56% of Americans feeling the same.
• People worldwide, from 64% in Germany to 89% in Indonesia, believe AI makes creating realistic fake news much easier.
• Two out of three people believe they can tell fake news from real news.
• Fake News Statistics show that 45% of South Korean people and 34% of Japanese people felt less confident about identifying real news.

(Reference: statista.com)

• As of 2024, around 71% of respondents stated that AI scams have enhanced fake news, followed by 69% (deepfakes) and another 69% (sexual/online abuse).
• Furthermore, other shares of fake news caused by generative AI are hallucinations (66%), data privacy (62%) and bias amplification (60%).

Biggest Threats of Fake News Statistics By Country

(Source: statista.com)

• As of 2024, India accounted for the top position that accounted for the highest threat from fake news.
• El Salvador, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Romania, Ireland, Czechia, the United States, Sierra Leone, France, and Finland face a high risk from misinformation and disinformation.
• For these countries, it ranks among the 4th to 6th biggest threats out of 34 risks over the next two years.
• In the United Kingdom, misinformation and disinformation are seen as the 11th biggest threat.

Audience Perspectives Statistics by Misinformation and Trust

(Reference: redline.digital)

• Fake News Statistics reveal that 56% of people said fake news happens when facts are incorrect in stories.
• Additionally, 44% believe it’s when politicians or news outlets only share facts that support their views.
• About 36% think it’s a term used by politicians and media to dismiss news they disagree with.
• In contrast, 7% were unsure, and 5% said none of these reasons apply.

Fake News Statistics By Certain Topics

(Reference: statista.com)

• Based on a Statista report analysis, in February 2024, 36% of people saw fake news about politics, and 30% saw false information about COVID-19.
• Furthermore, the share of consumers who experienced other types of fake news is followed by economics, cost of living (28%), Israel-Palestine conflict (27%), the war in Ukraine (24%), Climate change or the environment (23%), Immigration (21%), and other health issues (18%).

Trust in Types Statistics in Broadcast News Organizations in the U.S.

(Reference: statista.com)

Concern About Disinformation and Elections Statistics by Human Development Index

(Reference: statista.com)

• Fake News Statistics in 2023 show that approximately 91% of people in medium or low-HDI countries feared fake news could influence elections and voters.
• Meanwhile, 88% of respondents belong to countries with high HDIs, followed by 87% (16-country average) and 82% (countries with very high HDIs).
• Besides, not concerned respondents that impact election campaigns and voting behavior by country worldwide are 13% (16-country average), 18% (very high HDIs), 12% (high HDIs), and 9% (medium/low HDIs).

U.S. Tech Company Intervention on Fake News Statistics

(Reference: statista.com)

• As of 2023, around 65% of U.S. adults thought tech companies should fight fake news, even if it limited information freedom.
• Meanwhile, 32% of people believe that the freedom of information should be protected, even if it allows the spread of fake news.

Frequency of Fake News Statistics

• In recent years, about 67% of Americans said they have come across fake news on social media at some time.

(Reference: demandsage.com)

• In the United States, 52% of people reported seeing fake news regularly.
• Meanwhile, another 34% said they come across fake news occasionally.
• Around 9% mentioned they never see fake news, while 5% were unsure or didn’t know.

Fake News Incidents Statistics By Media Outlets

(Reference: redline.digital)

• A survey showed that 67% of people find fake news on Facebook, 65% on social media, and 60% online overall.
• Furthermore, other shares of media outlets based on recall of fake news incidents are followed by YouTube (56%), Television (51%), video-sharing services generally (48%), mainstream media sources (45%), print media (44%), a blog (41%), Twitter (40%)and other (25%).

Hardest Platform to Tell Truth from Fake News by Share of Respondents

(Reference: statista.com)

• A 2024 survey by the Reuters Institute, based on data from 47 markets, found that 27% of TikTok users and 24% of X users struggle most to determine whether news on these platforms is trustworthy.

Based on Fake News Statistics, other platforms shares  are detailed in the table below:

Political Fake News Statistics

(Source: ipsos.com)

• In 2018, 69% of Americans believed lying in politics and media increased over 30 years.
• In 2023, 64% of Americans believed there was more lying or misuse of facts, a drop of 5% under President Biden. However, this percentage is still higher than in other G7 countries.
• In Britain, 59% think lying or misusing facts has increased since 1993.
• The numbers are lower in other countries: 56% in Canada, 55% in France, 53% in Germany, 44% in Italy, and 35% in Japan.

Fake News Statistics By Economic Losses

(Reference: demandsage.com)

• In 2024, fake news caused a loss of USD 39 billion per year to the stock market value.
• Further economic losses caused by fake news worldwide include financial misinformation (USD 17 billion), reputation management (USD 9.54 billion), public health misinformation (USD 9 billion), online platform safety (USD 3 billion), political spending (USD 0.4 billion), and brand safety (USD 0.25 billion).

Conclusion

Fake news circulates quickly and harms people and society simultaneously. Such news often tricks people into believing false information, which causes fear and confusion. To fight against fake news, always check whether the source is reliable and compare it with trusted news outlets.

This article will guide you in thinking critically and avoid sharing information without proof. By being careful and responsible, we can help stop the spread of fake news and create a safer online world.